It is easy to see why so many Americans believe that the United States only plays host to a two-party system during elections. Because of their financial advantages, the Democratic and Republican parties can afford enough advertising and media prominence to discuss their platforms and ideology. However, the American peoples have many more choices open to them than the two political leviathans. In the 2008 presidential election, twelve other candidates vied for the position in addition to eventual winner, Democrat Barack Obama, and his Republican rival John McCain – one recognized as an independent in all states but two, the others affiliated with smaller parties. For some Americans, the platforms of neither the Democrats nor Republicans line up with their beliefs. However, due to the level of exposure granted to the two wealthier parties many do not realize that options that may possibly serve as a better fit for their political leanings exist.

While not all parties can afford to run presidential candidates every four years, many must voice their opinions in state and local elections with the hopes of eventually influencing voters on a national scale through determination and fundraising. The first twelve parties listed gathered enough resources to run in the 2008 presidential elections, while the rest remain active on a state or local level while still answering to a national headquarters. However, not every candidate was allowed on ballots or the approved write-in candidate list in every state. No matter their place on the spectrum, they offer Americans more choices to find candidates whose platforms parallel their own political perceptions instead of feeling forced to vote for one of two options that may not necessarily offer what they want.

1. American Party : Originally the American Independent Party before a recent schism, the American Party ran attorney and real estate broker Diane Beall Templin as its 2008 presidential candidate. It seeks to promote religion (Christianity) as the foundation of American society and believes the government should disassociate itself with any international organization such as the United Nations. Domestically, it supports the death penalty and the pro-life movement and does not believe in any form of gun control.

2. American Independent Party : The American Independent Party ran former U.N. Ambassador Alan Keyes on a platform that touted religion (specifically, Christianity) and government as institutions that must merge together rather than operate on separate spheres of influence. Most of the party’s stances reflect this mindset, opposing abortion, gay rights as well as marriage, stem cell research, and affirmative action. Keyes also vehemently supports the Second Amendment, prayer in school, and more funding for both NASA and the military.

3. Boston Tea Party : A direct offshoot of the Libertarian Party, the Boston Tea Party ran boxing manager Charles Jay in the 2008 presidential elections. It espouses the exact same stance as the Libertarians, with emphasis on total personal and economic autonomy with minimal government intervention. The only real difference between the two parties is the level of force each is willing to assert, with the Boston Tea Party standing as the more aggressive.

4. Constitution Party : In the 2008 presidential elections, the Constitution Party ran pastor and radio show host Charles “Chuck” Baldwin as its candidate. As the original organization from which the American Independent Party sprang, it holds a similar stance regarding the intersections between government and religion – again, Christianity specifically. Baldwin frequently likens abortion to the Holocaust, supports the gold standard, and opposes the corporate welfare of multinational corporations. When it comes to education, he believes that home, private, and religious schooling ought to be subjected to the same tax breaks as public.

5. Green Party : Green Party members have held several positions at the state level, including Maine, California, and Arkansas. They ran former Democratic representative from Georgia Cynthia McKinney during the 2008 presidential elections. One of the most visible “third parties” in the United States, along with the Libertarians, the Green Party is most vocal about environmental sustainability, personal responsibility, community economics, and equality measures for women, ethnic minorities, and the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual) community. It also protests war as a diplomatic measure and supports American-subsidized food and medical aid in Africa.

6. Libertarian Party : The Libertarian Party ran former Republican representative from Georgia Robert “Bob” Barr as its 2008 presidential candidate, supporting him on a platform of complete personal and economic freedom with minimal government interference. The Libertarian party opposes the Patriot Act and the Real ID act and believes that the military ought to be available for national defense and national defense alone. It is pro-choice and believes in open borders, the legalization of medical marijuana and prostitution, the absence of economic restrictions, and full Second Amendment Rights. Though Barr himself helped pen the Defense of Marriage Act, the Libertarian Party often criticizes the marginalization of the GLBT community in the United States.

7. New American Independent Party : CFO of Our Castle Homes Frank McEnulty ran as the first presidential candidate for the New American Independent Party in 2008. This relatively new organization blends viewpoints from the two major political parties with the needs and voice of the middle class as its main focal point. In some cases, the seek compromises and middle grounds as a means of making sure every point of view gets something to satiate their needs and beliefs. For example, it supports prayer in school provided all faiths are represented and the activities do not infringe upon the well-being of atheist or agnostic students. The New American Independent party also believes in gay marriage and the abolition of affirmative action, with the mindset that all people must be judged based on character and skill as opposed to involuntary factors such as race or gender.

8. Objectivist Party : Inspired by Ayn Rand’s philosophies, this party ran party founder Tom Stevens as its 2008 presidential candidate as a means of promoting her views. Rand herself objected to the use of her ideology as a political party, preferring libertarianism and laissez-faire economics as the better representation of her beliefs. Objectivism projects the existence of an absolute good and absolute evil with very little middle ground. Adherents to this philosophy believe that the pursuit of happiness stands as the true meaning of life, and only a political system espousing pure freedom allows for it.

9.  Party for Socialism and Liberation : Pulling their inspiration from Karl Marx and Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the Party for Socialism and Liberation ran frequent candidate Gloria La Riva in the 2008 presidential elections. With the intent of standing as a worker’s party in the United States, it advocates staunch economic restrictions to ensure equal financial distribution and opportunities. It is also very active in the international community, with support of Cuba, the Chinese Revolution, the Bolivian Revolution, and a wide variety of Arab and Muslim organizations. The PLS adheres to a strict anti-war stance as well, believing that the abolition of capitalism and free trade will result in the cessation of violence, poverty, racism, and marginalization.

10. Prohibition Party : After the Democrats and Republicans, the Prohibition Party is the longest continuously active political party in the United States. Minister and artist Gene Amondson ran as their presidential candidate in 2008, running on a platform that places heavy restrictions – if not the outright abolition of – of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, prostitution, drugs, and pornography. They believe that the government acts as the overarching arbiter of morality, and with strict regulations against perceived vices the only solution to creating a just and pious society. The Prohibition Party was once instrumental in making the production, import, and sale of alcohol illegal in the United States from 1919 through 1933.

11. Reform Party of the United States of America : One of the most curious aspects of the Reform Party of the United States is its complete lack of a social platform. Having run such vastly different high-profile candidates such as Ross Perot and Ralph Nader – with Ted Weill as its 2008 presidential nominee – the party devotes itself solely to the reorganization of political campaigns. Contenders are free to forge their own social platform, as the main concerns of the Reform Party revolve around campaign finance reforms, term limits in Congress, and the dismantling of the Electoral College. It seeks to prevent career politicians from becoming increasingly more beholden to donors and lobbyists as well as placing the power of democracy directly into the hands of voters.

12. Socialist Party of the United States of America : The Socialist Party of the United States of America stands as one direct offshoot from the original American socialist representation as founded by Norman Thomas and Eugene V. Debs. It ran Brian Moore as its 2008 presidential candidate, adhering to a platform of social justice and equality achieved by blasting away at subjugating socioeconomic boundaries. In addition, the party is anti-war, against the death penalty, supports school vouchers and full funding for arts and culture, and believes in a universal, single-payer healthcare system – all with the ultimate goal of abolishing sexism, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia in American culture.

13. America First Party : A fairly new “third party,” America First also believes that the United States must abolish its affiliation with international councils, and supports the mindset that the Iraq War is unconstitutional. It opposes all forms of gun control, abortion, affirmative action, and illegal or unlimited immigration. In addition, their economic policy states that income and sales taxes at the same time is unconstitutional and supports the repeal of the 16th Amendment.

14. Independence Party of America : With populist ideals at its core, the Independence Party of America supports a non-partisan approach to politics that takes the needs and opinions of all sides into consideration. It hopes to establish a think tank capable of forging compromises that reinforce good relations between vastly different perceptions. Because of this, it takes no explicit stance on specific issues, choosing instead to run candidates as mediators attempting to find solutions that please the majority of citizens without compromising the voice of the minority.

15. Moderate Party : Thus far, the Moderate Party has not run any candidates beyond Congress, and its main tenets of open democracy, personal responsibility, and peaceful security attempt to find a middle ground between conservatism and liberalism. For example, it advocates reproductive rights with the stipulation that women considering an abortion educate themselves on the process and understand the possible physical, emotional, and mental side effects. It supports the constitutional right to bear arms as outlined in the Second Amendment, but believes that measures need to be taken in order to ensure the safety of owners and their family and friends as well. Though not to the same degree as the Independence Party of America, the Moderate Party tries to dedicate itself to occupying a middle ground that pleases as many individuals as possible without infringing upon anyone’s rights.

16. Peace and Freedom Party : While Ralph Nader ran his 2008 presidential campaign as an independent, in California and Iowa he appeared on the ballot as the Peace and Freedom Party candidate. Aside from that, the party concerns itself mainly with elections in California. The party adheres itself to predominantly feminist and socialist ideologies, vocally supporting environmental causes and access to free healthcare and education without socioeconomic bias. In addition, the Peace and Freedom Party also interprets socialism from a democratic standpoint, believing that financial institutions and other government constructs such as the media ought to be owned by the people of the United States. Decisions as to how they run will be determined through direct voting by those the organizations effect.

17. Socialist Equality Party : An offshoot of an international party also present in the UK, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Canada, this socialist party adheres to Trotskyist interpretations of Marxism and Leninism. Its main purpose is to unite the working class and overthrow socioeconomic restrictions keeping individuals in a perpetual state of subjugation. Anti-war and anti-border control and anti-torture, they work for the abolition of social boundaries as a means of better promoting peace and full equality for American citizens – including the nationalization of banks and wealthy corporations to alleviate the plight of the poverty-stricken.

18. United States Marijuana Party : As its title may imply, the United States Marijuana Party dedicates itself to the legalization of cannabis for recreational, medicinal, and practical use in the production of hemp for rope and other applications. It does not vocally concern itself with many other issues outside of this very small platform, though for the most part it embraces a more libertarian ideology. In conjunction with the Libertarian Party, it ran activist Loretta Nall as a gubernatorial candidate in Alabama in 2006.

19. Unity Party of America : Proclaiming it wants America to move “not right, not left, but forward,” the Unity Party of America focuses mostly on economic issues from a moderate perspective. For example, it does support affirmative action, but only on the basis of socioeconomic bracket over race and gender. It also believes in tax reform to benefit the poor without trouncing on the opinions of the middle and upper classes as well.

20. Workers World Party : This international political party, with a chapter in the United States, espouses communist ideals of anti-fascism, anti-war, anti-imperialism, and civil rights for all races, genders, and sexual preferences. It blames capitalist principles for the degradation of the human person, and calls for an entire economic, educational, and social overhaul to achieve its goals of equality.

21.  Working Families Party : As can be easily assessed from the title, the Working Families Party tailors all of its core principles around the security of families, concerning itself with improving public schools and services, ensuring job availability, salaries commiserate with basic needs, and better health care. The party also supports the reduction of jail time for drug offenses in favor of allowing them to enter into rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment facilities.

Each of these political parties represents the interests and opinions of a number of Americans across the country. The Democrats and Republicans, while massive and undeniably influential, do not always speak for everyone. So-called “third parties” offer alternatives for those feeling disenfranchised by the two most visible political institutions. By getting involved in a party that aligns with their perspectives, Americans have an opportunity to help give voice to their ideals and stand up for what they believe in.